Battery with enhanced safety

A battery pack, comprising at least one cell and at least one charger that charges the cell, wherein each cell includes:

• a) a cell casing
• b) a first terminal
• c) a second terminal in electrical communication with the cell casing and electrically insulated from the first terminal;
• d) an electrode assembly in the cell casing, the electrode assembly including a first electrode in electrical communication with the first terminal, a second electrode in electrical communication with the second terminal, and an electrolyte between the first and second electrodes;
• e) a current interrupt device in electrical communication with the first terminal and the first electrode, or with the second terminal and the second electrode, the current interrupt device including a first conductive component and a second conductive component in electrical communication with each other, wherein the electrical communication between the first and second conductive components is interrupted when a gauge pressure between the two components is in a range of between about 4 kg/cm2 and about 15 kg/cm2;
• and
• f) insulation that interrupts potential electrochemical communication between the first electrode and the second terminal or between the second electrode and the first terminal, when under a charging or overcharging condition and when the electrical communication between the first and second conductive components of the current interrupt device has been interrupted to thereby interrupt the electrical communication between the first terminal and the first electrode or between the second terminal and the second electrode,
• and wherein the charger is in electrical communication with the first terminal or the second terminal of the cell.

A method of minimizing increase of internal pressure of at least one cell of a battery pack under a charging or overcharging condition, comprising:

• a) charging at least one cell of the battery pack with a charger of the battery pack that is in electrical communication with a first terminal or a second terminal of the cell, the first and the second terminals being in electrical communication with a first electrode and a second electrode of an electrode assembly of the cell, respectively;
• b) interrupting electrical communication between the first terminal and the first electrode of the cell or between the second terminal and the second electrode of the cell by a current interrupt device that includes a first conductive component and a second conductive component in electrical communication with each other, when a gauge pressure between the components is in a range of between about 4 kg/cm2 and about 15 kg/cm2;
• and
• c) interrupting potential electrochemical communication between the first electrode and the second terminal or between the second electrode and the first terminal with insulation.